Tanzania Safari – Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Duration
8 Days
Destination
Tanzania
Style
Tailor-Made
Best For
Wildlife & Adventure
Women-Led · Custom-Made Luxury Safaris · Exclusive African Wilderness Escapes
Overview
Tanzania's complete northern circuit spans three distinct ecosystems: baobab-studded Tarangire, the vast Serengeti and the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater. At $180 per person per day in the Serengeti (versus $200 in Kenya's Maasai Mara), this itinerary delivers exceptional wildlife diversity at outstanding value, without a single compromise on the classic East Africa experience.
Trip Highlights
Elephant herds among giant baobab trees in Tarangire
Two full game-drive days in the Great Serengeti
Game drive inside the world's largest intact caldera, Ngorongoro
All Big Five across three distinct ecosystems
Scenic NCA highlands crossing between Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1Arusha – Tarangire National Park (approx. 2.5–3 hrs)
Your guide collects you from your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport in the morning. Drive southwest to Tarangire, with a short introductory game drive on the way to the lodge for check-in and lunch. Rest and then enjoy an afternoon game drive from 3–4 p.m. Tarangire National Park is famous for its enormous elephant herds, the largest in Tanzania, and its iconic baobab trees.
Day 2Tarangire – Full Day
Morning and afternoon game drives in Tarangire, or a full-day drive with a picnic lunch in the bush. The Tarangire River is a lifeline in the dry season, drawing large concentrations of elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion and leopard. Baobab-dotted hills and the serpentine river create one of Africa's most scenic safari backdrops. Tarangire is a less crowded alternative to the Serengeti, making it a prized stop for serious wildlife photographers.
Day 3Tarangire – Central Serengeti via Ndutu/NCA (approx. 5–6 hrs)
After breakfast, check out with packed picnic lunches and drive northwest toward the Serengeti. The route passes through Lake Manyara's agricultural highlands and then climbs into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before descending into the Ndutu plain: the calving grounds of the wildebeest. Enter the Serengeti at Naabi Hill Gate and proceed to the central Seronera region. Evening game drive as you settle into camp.
Day 4Serengeti – Full Day
A full day in the heart of the Serengeti: home to Africa's Big Five and a staggering 1.5 million wildebeest during the Great Migration. Full-day game drives with a picnic lunch. Morning drives often reveal predators returning from a night hunt; evening drives catch them heading out. Optional: hot air balloon safari at sunrise, Maasai village visit, bush breakfast.
Day 5Serengeti – Full Day
Another unhurried day in the Serengeti. Venture toward the western corridor or the Moru Kopjes where lions frequently rest in the rocky outcrops. Cheetah sightings are common on the open plains. Explore different areas with your expert guide to maximise wildlife encounters. Optional sundowner on the savannah at dusk.
Day 6Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater Rim (approx. 3–4 hrs via NCA)
After breakfast, check out and drive east through the NCA highlands to the Ngorongoro crater rim. Arrive by mid-afternoon. Check in and enjoy a short introductory game drive along the rim road with views into the vast caldera below. Dinner at the lodge with views over the crater.
Day 7Ngorongoro Crater – Full Day, then Transfer to Tarangire (approx. 3 hrs)
Descend into the crater after breakfast with packed picnic lunch boxes for a full day tour of the caldera floor. Drive among the crater's dense wildlife: lion prides, elephant bulls, flamingos in the soda lake, and rare black rhino. After a picnic lunch at the in-crater picnic site, ascend and drive east to Tarangire for a final overnight.
Day 8Tarangire – Arusha – Departure
Morning at leisure or an optional early morning walk with a ranger before driving to Arusha. Drop-off at your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport. End of services.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- All accommodation on a Full Board basis (as specified)
- All game drives in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Expert English-speaking guide and driver
- All national park and reserve entry fees
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- Mineral water during all game drives
- Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
Not Included
- International flights and any domestic or regional flights not expressly listed as included in your confirmed quote
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tanzania visa or entry-permission fees, where required for your passport
- Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Personal items (laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs)
- Optional balloon flight in the Serengeti, booked and priced separately; other activities not listed as included
- Any costs arising from flight delays or itinerary changes
- Meals outside the meal plan stated for each day of this itinerary
- Mainland Tanzania government inbound travel insurance, where required: US$44 per adult, US$22 per child aged 3–17, with ages 0–2 free. Purchase separately before travel; not included in the safari price.
Good to Know
Your route covers Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro. The arrival arrangements on Day 1 and the final-day transfer form part of this itinerary; share your flight times with us before booking so we can check the connections.
Entry documents: check the passport, visa and entry-permission requirements for Tanzania before travel. Requirements depend on your passport and can change. We confirm the planned crossings and arrival points with your itinerary.
Allow time for the road journeys shown in the daily plan. Driving times are estimates, with stops, road conditions affecting the day. Tell us about mobility needs or a preference for shorter travel days while we plan the route.
Ask us to confirm the scope and validity of any operator-arranged emergency evacuation cover for this route. Keep your own comprehensive medical and travel insurance suitable for the countries and activities in your itinerary.
Last checked 9 October 2026: mainland Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance began on 1 October 2026. Eligible travellers must arrange the applicable NIC policy before travel; your usual private travel insurance does not replace this entry requirement.
Your first Tanzanian arrival on this route is in mainland Tanzania. Use the official NIC portal to arrange the applicable policy before travel.
Standard insurance rates are US$44 per adult aged 18 or over, US$22 per child aged 3–17, and free for ages 0–2, subject to the insurer's eligibility rules and checkout. Insurance age bands may differ from lodge child rates. Cover is for up to 92 days, with the actual dates shown on your certificate. Keep the certificate and QR code accessible throughout the trip.
Residents of EAC and SADC member states qualify for the mainland exemption under NIC's published rules. This is residence-based, not simply a passport exemption. Confirm eligibility with NIC before departure.
The government policy is purchased separately and excluded from this safari price. Keep comprehensive personal travel insurance suitable for your activities, medical needs, cancellation risks and other countries visited. Government cover has limits and exclusions; any separately arranged evacuation service does not replace it. Rules and rates can change, so recheck the official portals before travel.
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